Collapsible automobile-top and locking device therefor



P. OSTRUK. COLLAPSIBLE AUTOMOBILE TOP AND LOCKING DEVICE THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21, IBM.

Patented Mar. 23, 1920.

2 aHEEIS-Hl-JQII P. OSTRUK. COLLAPSIBLE AUTOMOBILE TOP'AND LOCKING DEVICE THEREEOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21, 19!?- 1,334=,313,. Patented Mar. 23, 1920.

IN VE/l/ TOR A4 Arrow/51 PAUL OSTRUK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

COLLAPSIBLE AUTOMOBILE-TOP AND LOCKING DEVICE THEREFOR.

Application filed February 21, 1917.

To all whom it may concern lie it known that I, PAUL OSTRUK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, county and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Automobile- Tops and Looking Devices Therefor, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automobiles and particula lv collapsible tops therefor where by no veil file may be readily converted from a closed to an open car and vice versa.

One object of the invention is to provide a body of this character which may be converted from a fully closed car of the town. car type to one as fully open as the ordinary touring car.

A further object of the invention is to provide a body of this character in which the parts are securely held in either open or closed position with a rigidity and freedom from lost motion fully equal to the highest type of permanently closed bodies, and which may be nevertheless adjusted from open to closed position and vice versa, without the use of tools and in a few moments time.

A further object of the invention is to provide a body of this character in which the several parts forming the sides of the top when expanded to provide a closed body form a complete frame for the sash forming the upper portion of the door, so that when the sash which is normally telescoped in the door is raised, it forms a watertight joint with the parts of the top.

lVith the above objects in view, my iuveir tion consists of the construction illustrated in the accoi'npanying drawings and hereinafter described, and in said drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in tion of a portion of an automobile body can bodying my invention with the top raised to provide a closed town car;

Fig. 2 is View similar to Fig. 1 but showing the body collapsed to provide an open car;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation looking from the right of Fig. 9- showing the manner in which the front posts of the body are folded down on top of the back of the front seat of the vehicle;

Fig. 4% is a sectional view on an enlarged Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 23, 1920.

Serial No. 150,007.

scale showing the specially hinged clamping joint of the front posts whereby they may be locked with absolute rigidity in either open or closed position;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view looking from the right of Fig. 4;

F ig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 4; and showing the clamping joints at the upper ends of the front posts by which the rear portion of the top is connected to the front posts and securely clamped in position against lost motion and rattling;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 6;

Figs. 8 and 9 are detail views of the fixture provided between the doors and the frame of the body to maintain the door in fixed position when closed to thereby prevent sagging of the door and rattling of the sash in the frame when the sash is in elevated posi tion; and v Fig. 10 is a detail view of a portion of the frame.

Referring to the drawings, particularly Figs. 1, 2 and 3, 1 indicates the body of the vehicle which is divided in the usual manner into front and rear compartments by the back 2 of the front seat. Access is had to the roar compartment through the usual side doors 3 hinged at their rear edges along the side of the door frame formed in the body 1..

At the end of the side wall. adjacent the door there is hinged a side piece 5 adapted when swung to vertical position as indicated in Fig. 1 to project slightly over the rear edge of the door so that the front face of the side piece forms a guide or frame for the edge of the sash 6 when it is raised out of the pocket 7 in the door into which it telescopes when the body is collapsed. The part 5 is hinged directly to the body, being connected thereto through a. metal fixture 8 projecting from the rear edge of the piece 5 and having a downwardly projecting ear through which the hinge pin projects. The fixture 8 is also provided with a rearwardly projecting ear to which a spring counterbalance 9 is connected, the counterbalance comprising a rod 10 hinged in the rearwardly projecting ear and working through an eye on the inner face of the wall of the body. a spring surrounding the rod 10 between the eye and a fixed collar on the rod so that the spring will be compressed when the frame piece 5 is turned from vertical to horizontal position shown in Fig. 2.

Immediately to the rear of the frame pieces 5 is a how 11 of inverted U-shape and having its parallel side portions supported on the rear walls of the frame pieces 5 by means of the dove-tail or sliding joint shown in Fig. 10. Each end of the U-shaped piece '11 is bifurcated as shown to fit over the top of the fixture 8 when the top is raised as shown in Fig. 1.

The horizontal transverse portion of the piece 11 extends above the ends of the frame pieces 5 and hinged to the ends. of the frame pieces for movement in a vertical plane are top pieces 12 which, when the top is raised, extend horizontally from the top of the frame pieces 5 over the tops of the sashes 6 and connect with the upperends of the front posts 13. The free ends of the pieces 12 on the opposite sides of the vehicle are connected together by a cross piece 14 to which the front edge of the covering material 15 is attached.

The front posts 13 are hinged to the sides of the body at the front edge of the door 3 and in line with the back 2 of the front seat for movement in a vertical plane transverse to the vehicle so that they may be either raised to vertical position in line with the edge of the door, or turned to a horizontal position in which they overlie and rest upon the top of the back of the front seat.

For connecting the posts 13 with the frame, I preferably employ a clamping hinged joint of the character shown in Figs. 1 and 5.7 This joint comprises a pair of spaced plates 16 set in the front and rear faces of the vertical posts 17 forming the front wall of the door frame and clamped fixedly in place by bolts or rivets '18. The posts 17 are cut away between the plates and slotted on their inner faces above the seat back to provide sockets for the project ing hinge parts on which the posts are supported. Each hinged part 21 consists, of a metal strap 22 having an eye in its end and projecting into the end of the post and fixed securely in position by suitable screws 23. The bore of the eye 21 is oppositely tapered at its front and rear edges to receive op positely arranged cones 24, 2a, the cone 2% being supported on the hinge pin 20, the cone 24 forming a fixed bearing for the hingepin; The cone 24 is threaded on the correspondingly threaded portion of the hinge pin 20 so that rotation of the hinge pin draws the cones together or shifts them apart, according to thedirection of rotation, The cone24 is held against rotation by means of a reduced squared end 25 fitting a corresponding recess in the inner wall of the adjacent plate 16. The hinge pin 20 is provided with flat handle 26 fixed or detachable on one end by which it may be conveniently rotated, and is held against longitudinal movement by a nut 27 on the opposite end of the pin which is reduced and threaded to pro ide a shoulder against which the nut may be tightly screwed.

Each front post 13 is provided at its up per end with one member of a locking connection of the character shown in Figs. 0 and 7, by which the front ends of the pieces 12 may be clamped with absolute rigidity to the front ends of the bars 12. This locking connection comprises a socket 29 set in a recess cut in the front edge of the post 13 at its upper end, the socket comprising a tubular section of substantially rectangu lar form with its front wall and one side wall forming a continuation of the corresponding faces of the post 13. Extending transversely across the socket piece from the outer side wall to the inner wall parallel therewith, is a clamping screw 30 mounted for rotation in the walls of the socket piece and held against longitudinal IDOVOillOlll) by means of a nut 32 screwed on the reduced shouldered end of the screw and turning in a recess formed in the face of the socket piece. The screw is provided with a. handle 31 by means of which it may be convcnimitly rotated.

Threaded on the clamping screw is a locking cone 33 held against rotation by means of a square hub 34 fitting a corrospondingly shaped hole in the socket piece 29. The conical portion of the nut 33 is of a length about half the width of the socketpiece and the upper edge of the socket pic/cc is provided along its outer edge with a transverse web .35 of a width equal to the conical part of the clamping cone. so that when the latter is adjusted to its extreme position it will lie entirely beneath the web 35.

The other member of the clamping coni ction comprises a plate 36 attached to the under face of the bar 12 at its end and provided with a downwardly projecting eye 37 having a conical bore of the size for to operation with the cone 33, the eye being open on its lower edge to allow the passage of the clamping screw 30.

lVhen the top is raised, as will be hcrcinafter described, the ends of the cross bars 12 are brought over the tops of the posts 13 and the eyes 37 are projected into the socket pieces 29, the clamping cones having been previously adjusted under the webs 35. Th 0 clamping screws 30 are then rotated by means of the handles 31 to project the cones into the conical sockets of the eyes 37 to thereby clamp the parts 12 and posts 13 rigidly together. i

In addition to the parts described, the top comprises a pair of bows or ribs 40 hinged l (ll) llll at each. end to the side of the body about midway between the door and the rear wall of the body, the bows supporting the flexible leather or fabric cover in the usual manner, the shape of the bows being such as to give the desired shape to the cover. Also carried by the pivots of the bows are links ll connected to the rear edges of the til-shaped piece 11 on its opposite sides near the top. For maintaining the bows spaced apart when the cover is raised, there are provided the usual toggles 422, one on each side, extending from the rear corners of the body to the upper ends of the frame parts 5, the toggles being preferably hinged on the same pins as the parts 12.

The front posts 13 preferably project slightly beyond the edge of the door frame to overlie the front corner of the door to provide guide or frame for the sash (i when it is raised, and the inner edges of the pieces 5 and 12, and posts 13, will be projected slightly beyond the outer edges to form a shoulder extending around the three exposed sides of the sash to forn'i with the sash a water-tight joint.

lln addition to the clamping members above described, 1. preferably provide a clamp and guide for the door 3 to i'naintaiu. it n on in closed position in exact vertical position to prevent its rattling in the frame. l his ixture is illustrated in Figs. 8 and l) and comprises an undercut dove-tail socket piece l5 set in the front edge of the door at the position indicated in Fig. l, and a cooperating male part 46 attached to the adjacent race of the door frame. The part it comprises a plate to be fixedly attached to the door frame, the plate having at its pposite vertical edges suitable ears 4:? in which a screw shaft 48 mounted for rotation. Supported on the screw shaft is a wedge-shaped block l9 having its edges undercut to fitthe socket piece d5.

The small end of the piece all) faces outwardly and the larger end of the tapered socket- 4-5 extends toward the inner side of the door so that wl'ren the door closed the socket piece will en age over the undercutwed in the man-- nor shown in Fig. 8. By means of the screw ill the position of the wedge block may be adjusted. so as to lit firmly in the socket when the door is closed sufficiently for its each to engage. As the opposite faces of the door catch wear away or the engaging faces of the soclret and wedge become worn, the position of the wedge may be shifted to tele up the wear. By means of this device, when the door is shut it will be held. against and swinging in its frame, and .y hold. the extended s sh in proper the position in the frame formed by the parts 5, IE2 and posts 13.

ll hen the top is to be collapsed all that is necessary is to loosen the clampin screws to disconnect the top frame from posts 13. The side bars 12 are then raised to vertical position over the parts 5. The toggles 42 are then broken and the top swung back, the bows 40 and the links 41 turning on their pivots while the pieces 5 turn on the hinges 8. As the top turns back the bow 11 will slide outwardly on the parts 5 to the position shown in Fig. 2, so that all the bows and the cross piece 1 L lie approximately in the same vertical plane, after the manner of an ordinary collapsible top.

If desired, the hinges 8 may also be of the construction shown in Fig. 5 to permit the rigid clamping of the parts in either open or closed position. 1 have found, however, that if the parts are properly pro portioned and carefully constructed, the two clampingjoints at the upper and lower ends of the post 13 are sutlicient to hold the entire top in rigid position without lost motion or rattling even after extended use.

I claim:

'1. In a vehicle body, the combination of a door, top-supporting members in front of the door adapted to be maintained rigidly in vertical position independent of the balance of the top, a collapsible top for the rear portion of the body back of the doors comprising members hinged to the body at the rear edges of the doors arranged to be raised to vertical position when the top is elevated, nien'rbers hinged to the free end of said lastna1ned members to extendover t ie doors for connection to said supporting members, clamping joints between the free ends of said members designed to maintain. said top members in horizontal position and toggles hinged to the body at their rear ends and to the joints between said members at their forward ends whereby when said toggles are straightened their thrust is taken by the ends of said horizontal members.

In a vehicle body, the combination of a door, hinged top-supporting members in front of the door, clamping joints for maintaining said inen'ibers rigidly in vertical position independent of the balance of the top, a collapsil'ile top for the rear portion of the body back of the doors comprising members hinged. to the body at the rear edges of the doors arranged to be raised to vertical position when the top is elevated, lneinbers hinged to the free end of said last-named members to extend over the doors for connection to said supporting members, clamping joints between the free ends of said members designed to maintain said top members in horizontal position and toggles hinged to the body at their rear ends and to the joints between said members at their forward ends whereby when said toggles are straightened their thrust is taken by the ends of said horizontal members.

ill]

3. A joint for rigidly connecting the frame members of collapsible vehicle tops comprising a recess in one member, a threaded shaft extending across said recess, a bifurcated projection on said other member adapted to project into said recess when the parts are in position to be locked and to embrace said shaft, said projection having a socket and a locking member carried by said threaded shaft to be projected into said socket upon rotation of said threaded shaft.

4. A joint for rigidly connecting the frame members of collapsible vehicle tops comprising a recess in one member, a threaded shaft extending across said recess, a bifurcated projection on said other member adapted to project into said recess when the parts are in position to be locked and to embrace said shaft, said projection having a tapered socket and a locking cone carried by said threaded shaft to be projected into said tapered socket upon rotation of said threaded shaft.

5. A joint for the frame members of collapsible vehicle tops comprising a supporting part to be attached to one of said members, a recess in said part, a rotatable hinge pin extending across said recess, a cooperating hinge member to be attached to another said frame member and rotatable on said pin, and means actuated by the rotation of said pin for locking said frame members rigidly together.

6. A joint for the frame members of collapsible vehicle tops comprising a pin and a cooperating socket, respectively, on the frame members to be joined, the bore of said socket being tapered and of greater diameter than said pin, and a locking cone mounted on said pin and longitudinally ad justable into and out of said socket to rigidly lock said members together.

7. A joint for the frame members of collapsible vehicle tops comprising a pin and a cooperating socket, respectively, on said frame members to be joined, the bore of said socket having oppositely tapered portions, a locking cone longitudinally adjustable on said pin cooperating with one of said portions, and a fixed cone co6perating with'the other of said portions, and

means for longitudinally adjustin the movable cone to clamp the parts fixedly together.

8. In a collapsible top for vehicle bodies having side doors, vthe combination of a pair of uprights attached to the sides of said body in advance of the doors, a top of flexible material for the portion of the body at and to the rear of the door, and means for supporting said cover comprising a bow having its end pivoted to each side of the body between the door and the back of the body, a second bow comprising posts pivoted to the sides of the body immediately to the rear of the door and a bow-shaped part at tached to the cover and having its side portions connected on the post for sliding movement, side bars pivot-ed to the upper ends of said posts, a cross connection between the free ends of said side bars to which the free edge of the cover is connected and means for attaching the free ends Oil said side bars to said uprights, thereby forming an open frame above the door.

9. In a collapsible top for vehicle bodies having side doors, the combination of a pair of uprights pivoted. to said body in advance of the doors for movement in a transverse plane from vertical to horizontal position, a flexible cover for the portion of the body to the rear of the door and for the roof thereof, means for supporting said cover comprising a bow having its end pivoted to each side of the body between the door and the back thereof, a second bow compris'ng posts pivoted to the sides of the body immediately to the rear of the door, and a bow-shaped part attached to the cover and having its side portions connected on the post for sliding movement, side bars pivoted to the upper ends of said posts, a cross connection between the free ends of said side bars to which the free edge of the cover is connected, and clamping connections between said uprights and said frame and between said uprights and said side bars for locking the parts rigidly against relative movement in all directions.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 2 th day of January, 1917 PAUL OSTRUK. 

